Method and Architecture to Support Interaction Between Host Computer and Remote Display Devices Wherein Service-Specific Protocols for the Remote Devices Are Defined

1. A method for displaying content on a remote display device, comprising: establishing a network communication link between the remote display device and a host computer; determining display capabilities of the remote display device based on a capabilities advertisement received by the host computer; launching a host-side software module to run on the host computer to enable interaction with the remote device via a display service-specific protocol that is specific to the display capabilities of the remote display device, wherein the display service-specific protocol is determined from the capabilities advertisement; sending display data corresponding to the display content from the host computer to the remote display device over the network communication link, said display data having a format corresponding to the display capabilities of the remote display device; sending display commands corresponding to the display service-specific protocol indicating how the display data is to be displayed on the remote display device; displaying the display data on the remote display device in response to the display commands; and wherein the display service-specific protocol includes feedback primitives to enable the remote display to provide display feedback information to the host computer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the display data on the remote display device comprises displaying the display data on a digital picture frame.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the display on the remote display device comprises displaying the display on a television monitor via a display adapter.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing the network communication link comprises: connecting the remote display device to a network to which the host computer is already connected; obtaining an IP address for the remote display device; broadcasting information pertaining to at least one service provided by the remote display device that includes the IP address over the computer network; and establishing a network communication link between the remote display device and the host of the remote display device that uses the IP address of the remote display device and an IP address previously assigned to the host computer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display service-specific protocol includes display synchronization commands that are sent to the remote display device to enable the display content to be refreshed in accordance with a predetermined timing to produce synchronized animations.